nymans farm

The Mock Bridge area of Henfield is on the northernmost part of the parish, on the boundary with Shermanbury. William Nyman built the original farmhouse in the 14th century, and the farm lies on the east bank of the Adur, across from the Bull. In 1841 the farmer of Nymans was 30-year old George Herrington from Chiltington, who was also there in 1851, farming 104 acres and employing 3 men and a boy, with his wife Jane from Washington and their son George. In 1901 the farm was occupied by 57-year old Jesse Hessman, a cattle stockman.

Henry de Candole,Vicar of Henfield from 1940-40, records in his diary that Nyman's farm was burnt out in the spring of 1943:

"We had a good deal of noise on 2 or 3 nights in the middle of March, and early on Saturday morning Nyman’s Farm was burnt out during a raid but whether certainly by enemy action seems unproved, for no other incendiaries were found anywhere near."

As you walk up the road from the Bull to the farm complex, you pass a quartet of cottages built round a green. These are 1-4 Nymans Farm, built after the first World War, and each one equipped with an identical Rayburn stove. Beyond the cottage block stands what was the former farmhouse, originally a hall house with no upper storey.

The old farmhouse is now two separate cottages numbered 5 and 6 Nymans Farm, with the oldest parts dating from the 1360s. The story, as told to me by the present occupant, Tony Bridgewater, who has lived in No. 5 since 1947, is that the occupant of the house was raising chickens in the loft, and the heater - presumably paraffin or oil -fell over and started the fire. Wartime bombs fell at Shiprods, but nothing nearer Nyman's. The cottages were owned at one time by impresario Emile Littler, whose brother, Prince Littler, was the owner of Chestham Park.

2 & 3 Nymans Farm: This block of two houses faces south on to the lane which runs from the main road up to Nyman's Farm.

1 Nymans Farm: The first cottage faces east and on to the green.

4 Nymans Farm: Cottage number 4 faces west on to the green.﻿5 & 6 Nymans Farm:﻿ This is the 14th century house which is now two cottages - number 5 and 6 respectively - taken from the vegetable garden of No. 5.

5 Nymans Farm rear: The back garden of No. 5. The white boarded right half is the oldest part of the house.

5 Nymans Farm interior: You can see the original beams and fireplace in the main living room of No. 5. The stuffed pheasants on the wall date from 1863.